The primary targets of Israel’s attack on Iran do not seem to be nuclear research and production facilities. Instead, people in the top positions of Iran’s military forces, top scientists of Iran’s nuclear program and political leaders seem to have been the primary aim.
Two dozen high ranking officers, including the chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in targeted attacks. Several leading scientist were killed over night when Israel bombed the civilian buildings they were living in, taking dozens of civilians with them.
Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities are buried underground near Natanz and Fordow. Satellite images show only light damage on above ground facilities in Natanz. Fordow seems to have not been attacked at all. There were attacks on some of Iran’s ballistic missile facilities. There are no reports yet of the level of damage they received.
Curiously there were no signs of any active air defenses. Israel seems to have disabled them by other means than open warfare.
Israeli sources claimed that Iran had retaliated by launching a hundred drones against Israel. There were however no observations of any drone. Iranian sources say that none had been launched (yet).
The attacks so far seem to be aimed more at regime change than on nuclear facilities. The few strikes on nuclear infrastructure are just enough for Israel to claim this as an act of preemptive self-defense.
A preemptive self defense is legal under international law. But it requires that the threat is “instant”, “overwhelming” and “imminent” leaving “no time for deliberation”. None of these conditions existed when Israel launched its attack. The war it launched is thus an act of aggression and illegal under international law.
Iran responded with 100 ballistic missiles (has over 30,000), which pummeled Tel Aviv despite work around the clock by US Navy Ships, Jordan’s patriot missiles batteries and Israel’s “Iron” dome to intercept the missiles. It didn’t work. Iran, for the second time showed how vulnerable Israel is. This will likely escalate, quickly. Expect rise in oil prices which will negatively impact Trump at home. Trump, being the bad actor he is, didn’t take long to admit US was involved in Israel’s attack on Iran, calling it “excellent”. The US refueled Israeli jets over Syria and Iraq, coordinated the attacks, and then defending, at least trying to defend Israel from Iran’s response. MAGA will certainly have a problem with Trump, who already has plenty of problems at home.
Chinese and Russian intel has already flagged their colleagues across the pond that Mossad (not Iran) is working on ensuring US gets deeply involved in the war against Iran, by staging a false flag on US soil and then blaming it on Iran. It wouldn’t be the first time the Mossad has pulled a false flag on US soil. Did I mention Bibi fled to safety in Athens minutes before the ballistic missiles started landing in Israel?
Meanwhile, Iran can stop its production of oil. It has various means to stop oil and gas production in U.S. allied countries situated in its neighborhood. It can close down the Strait of Hormuz through which 25% of the global hydrocarbon productions is flowing. There is very little the U.S. could do to prevent Iran from sustaining such a blockade.
#RAPENETANYAHU pic.twitter.com/YE735mwKtM
— YungPut1n (@YungPutin1) June 13, 2025
Hate to be the bearer of bad news.
— 3Dprintedfordparts (@ElofsonJess) June 14, 2025
but we're fucked #Goodluck to you all#LongLiveTheRepublic pic.twitter.com/QtWA3MCcJR